Rotary tube closure



June 14, 1938. F. o. RHOADS 2,120,510

ROTARY TUBE CLOSURE Filed Mapch 5, 19:57; 1 2 sheets-sheet 1 33 a4- an A.30 4 52 an 37 56 INVENTOR F rmly Q. hoadS Patented June 14, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE i Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of rotary tube closures of thetype used in sealing the dispensing ends of collapsible metal tubeswhich are used for packaging various commodities.

The structure of my device is such that it may be used fixedly as partof ,the tube, to be sold with the same, or as an attachment which may bescrewed onto a. collapsible tube in lieu of the normal cap which is usedto close the tube until it is in the hands of the consumer.

My present construction has as its principal object the provision of atube closure that ohtsins its closing action through the revolving of aspherical member which, in turn, has a passsgeway through its diameter.

A further object is to provide a. spherical, rotary closure member whichwill be tightly seated during the dispensing of the tubes contents; willbe freed for easy movement during the transition period between theopened and closed position, and will be again firmly seated when thespherical member is turned so as to seal the tube. This is a matter ofconsiderable importance in that it insures that, during the dispensingof the tubes contents, the paste will not work around the sphericalsurface into the mechanism that is associated with it and eventuallycause the some to lock or, at best, work with dihiculty. Further, mydevice assures that when the tube is closed it will be tightly sealed sothat even the lighter oils which may separate from paste preperationswill not be able to leak out around the closure.

Gther and more specific objects will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, each ofwhich is shown considerably enlarged over its normally preferred size,wherein Figxue is a, side elevation of my tube closure means, the somebeing shown midway between opened and closed positions.

Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view through my device as it wouldappear in its closed posifion.

3 is a perspective view showing the upper esp member of my device as itwould appear inverted from the position in Figure l.

figure 4 shows, in perspective, the base member of my closure. Thismight be either a portion of the tube itself or a separate attachmentwhich could be screwed onto the conventionsl tube in lieu of its usualcop.

Figure 5 is a, perspective view of the spherical closure member.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the under side of the collarmember shown in Figure with the tube, itself, or the tube engagingextension, broken away to more clearly illustrate the cam construction.

Figures '2 to 12, inclusive, illustrate the se-- quence of steps inopening a dispenser equipped with my device.

Figure 7 is an elevation of my tube closure, similar to Figure 1,excepting the spherical. closure member is shown in closed position andwith certain parts of the retaining cap shown in section.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view, in plan, of Figure '7 taken alongthe line 8-8 of the some.

Figure 9 illustrates in elevation my closure midway between its openedand closed'positions.

Figure 10 is-a vertical, sectional view through the'same in the positionshown in Figures 1 and Q.

Figure 11 is a view, in elevation, showing my closure in its opened, ordispensing, position.

Figure 12 is a. vertical, sectional View through my device in theposition shown in Figure 11.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference charactersindicate like parts, l4 designates the base member of my device. Thismay be either the upper end of a, collapsible tube V or it may be a,member flanged out and equipped with internal threads .to replace theordinary cap found on a collapsible tube, after the showing of Figure 2.In either case it is provided with a central here it and an annular rimla. The upper end of bore E5 is formed so as to accommodate a portion ofa sphere.

Disposed upon surface 26 and coaxially with bore 56 is thesphericalclosure member 22 shown in detail in Figure 5. This member inturn is provided with a dismetric bore 24 and, disposed at right anglesto bore 24 are two oppositely extending and diametrically opposedjournals 26 and 2?. One of these journals has, formed on a. portion ofits periphery, the gear segment 28. Partially enclosing sphere 22 is thecover, or retaining member Edi This is provided in its upper portionwith a spherical seat to engage sphere Z2 and is provided in additionwith bearings as 32 adapted to engage journelportions of lugs 2d and 2?.A downwardly extending flange portion to is provided to house theoperating parts and at its extreme lower edge are provided a pinralityof cam followers 36 which also serve as holding down lugs for coverMethod of operation lugs, or followers, to are then bent into position,

where they serve to hold the assembly together and also operativelyengage cams Q8 disposed on the under side of rim iii. In this connectionit is desired to point out that there should be the same so I haveillustrated three sets. This number, however, may be varied inaccordance with the requirements of the particular design in question.

At the time theunit is assembled, gear segment 28, formed as part of thespherical member 22, is disposed in the lower semi-circle so that whencap 30 is in place definite stops will be provided for the teeth at 42and 43.

On the upper surface of rim I8 is disposed a set of teeth 45 adapted tomesh with teeth 28 and limiting stops as 48 are provided at each end ofthe normal travel of teeth 28. In Figures? sphere 22 is shown in itsclosed position with the teeth abutting stop 42 and with followers 36riding on their matching cams 40 so as to tighten sphere 22 firmly onits seat 20. Now, in opening the device the cover 30 is grasped,normally, by the, preferably, knurled rim 34 and turned to the left inthe direction of the arrow shown in Figure 7. There will be anappreciable movement before teeth 28 engage teeth 45. This will givesufficient interval for followers 36 to be moved off of earns 40 so thatsphere 22 is free in its .seat a'ter the showing of Figure 9. Acontinuation of this movement carries teeth 45 on beyond teeth 28 whichthen abut stop 43. A continuation of this movement seats followers 36again on cams 40 thus again firmly seating member 22 on seat 20.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are believed toclearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will beunderstood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that suchchanges in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope andspirit of the following claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a receptacle having a neck provided with apassage therethrough, of a 2 2,120,510 number of cams and followers. Inthe drawings rotary valve head having a port therethrough, opposed lugson said head journaled on said neck, one of said lugs having an arcuaterack thereon, a rack on said neck adapted for co-action with saidarcuate rack whereby rotary motion imparted to said valve head willaline said passage and port.

2. The combination with a receptacle having a neck provided with apassage therethrough, of an annular collar on said neck having anannular ring, a rotary ported valve head seated on said collar, opposedlugs on said head, an arcuate rack on one of said lugs, a rack on saidcollar adapted for oo-action with said'arcuate rack, and aretaining-plate for said head having journals for said lugs wherebyrotation of said plate will rotate and revolve said head to aline saidpassage and port.

3. The combination with a receptacle having a neck provided with apassage therethrough, of an annular collar on said neck having anannular ring provided with cam faces on its under side, a rotary portedvalve head seated on said collar, opposed lugs on said head, an arcuaterack on one of said lugs, a rack on saidcollar adapted for coaction withsaid arcuate rack provided with camfollowers for said cam faces andhaving journals for said lugs whereby partial rotation of said platewill release said head and further rotation of said head will rotate andrevolvev said head to aline said passage and port.

4. The combination with a receptacle having a neck provided with apassage therethrough, of a rotary valve head having a port therethrough,opposed lugs on said head journaled on said neck, one of said lugshaving an arcuate rack thereon, a rack on said neck adapted forco-actlon with said arcuate rack whereby rotary motion imparted to saidvalve head will aline said-passage and port, and means for alternatelyretaining said head in closed or open position.

1 FRANK O. RHOADS.

